Area teens train for Jerry's Baddle to benefit ALS

Reid Motter aces Nies Pieces, a class IV rapid on the Green River Narrows, during a training run for Jerry's Baddle this Saturday.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

By CHRISTINE BOUSHTimes-News Correspondent

Published: Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 5:56 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 5:56 a.m.

Reid Motter, 16, and Kristian Gaylord, 15, stared at the classroom clock as each tick-tock counted down to Jerry’s Baddle, the extreme kayaking and cycling biathlon the duo have spent months training for.

The race is a fundraiser for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, held annually in remembrance of Jerry Beckwith, an avid paddler and cyclist who died from the disease in 2006.

Commonly referred to as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease,” ALS ruthlessly attacks nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, progressively paralyzing the body.

Event organizer Brooks Saucier said Motter and Gaylord are the youngest team to ever compete in the challenging and inherently dangerous race.

“Competitors begin in Henderson County and must navigate through class IV-V whitewater in the Green River Gorge to the transition area in Polk County,” Saucier said. “The cycling component is 26 miles of grueling climbs on less-than-ideal road surfaces.”

Motter, an avid kayaker, and Gaylord, a strong cyclist, said they signed up for the race because it gave them a chance to do what they loved and support a cause they identified with.

“I was about to try out for the National Olympic Development junior soccer team when I found out that recurrent stress fractures had culminated in extensive damage to my hip and pelvic bone.” Gaylord said. “My soccer career literally ended overnight, and the devastation of that experience gave me an immediate connection to Jerry Beckwith losing the ability to do the things he loved.”

Gaylord said he struggled with depression after his diagnosis, and that depression lingered until he discovered a new passion in cycling.

”It was a low-impact sport that is surprisingly team oriented,” Gaylord said. “I’m a social athlete and I found the same support in the cycling community I experienced on the soccer field.”

A year later, he showed such promise and commitment that the employees and team riders at Sycamore Cycles in Hendersonville chipped in to buy him a high-end performance bike to replace his Craigslist clunker.

“I’ve been told I’m a natural cyclist,” Gaylord said. “But I’m not an aquatic mammal at all, so I’m glad I could team up with Reid for the race.”

Motter said he began kayaking at Christ School in Arden at age 14 and quickly progressed.

“I have always loved outdoor activities, but kayaking just fit me perfectly,” he said. “I never dreamed I would be be good enough to do something like paddle the Green Narrows, let alone race this Saturday.”

Motter and Gaylord said they are cognizant of the risks involved in each sport and strive to push their limits without exceeding them.

“If you aren’t prepared or ready for a hard rapid, things quickly spiral out of control,” Motter said. “When I drop into a raging rapid, I’m so focused that I feel each stroke and movement vividly as if it was happening in slow motion.”

Gaylord said he recently experienced a crash that took most of the skin off his arm, cracked his helmet and worst of all, scratched his new bike.

“It’s disconcerting the only thing between me and the road is those little skinny road bike tires when I’m descending at 55 miles an hour,” Gaylord said. “It’s exhilarating and sketchy.”

Motter said they aim to complete the race in just under two hours, a lofty goal given the winning time in 2012 was 2:01:36.

In addition to competing, the two raised $250 in sponsorships to donate to ALS research.

Both teens said their parents have worked hard to support them in their extreme hobbies.

“I mean, Mom isn’t exactly happy about it,” Gaylord said. “It’s clear they would rather I had chosen something like golf, but they are very supportive.”

Motter’s dad, Rich, said he credits kayaking as a positive force that has fostered his son’s maturity, decision-making skills and risk assessment.

“Every time they go on a more serious run such as the Narrows where there has been fatalities and other serious accidents, we are obviously nervous until we get the phone call they are off the river,” Rich Motter said. “They are very aware of how to react in a crisis situation and understand the responsibility of being each others lifeline.”

<p>Reid Motter, 16, and Kristian Gaylord, 15, stared at the classroom clock as each tick-tock counted down to Jerry's Baddle, the extreme kayaking and cycling biathlon the duo have spent months training for. </p><p>The race is a fundraiser for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, held annually in remembrance of Jerry Beckwith, an avid paddler and cyclist who died from the disease in 2006. </p><p>Commonly referred to as “Lou Gehrig's Disease,” ALS ruthlessly attacks nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord, progressively paralyzing the body. </p><p>Event organizer Brooks Saucier said Motter and Gaylord are the youngest team to ever compete in the challenging and inherently dangerous race. </p><p>“Competitors begin in Henderson County and must navigate through class IV-V whitewater in the Green River Gorge to the transition area in Polk County,” Saucier said. “The cycling component is 26 miles of grueling climbs on less-than-ideal road surfaces.”</p><p>Motter, an avid kayaker, and Gaylord, a strong cyclist, said they signed up for the race because it gave them a chance to do what they loved and support a cause they identified with. </p><p>“I was about to try out for the National Olympic Development junior soccer team when I found out that recurrent stress fractures had culminated in extensive damage to my hip and pelvic bone.” Gaylord said. “My soccer career literally ended overnight, and the devastation of that experience gave me an immediate connection to Jerry Beckwith losing the ability to do the things he loved.” </p><p>Gaylord said he struggled with depression after his diagnosis, and that depression lingered until he discovered a new passion in cycling. </p><p>”It was a low-impact sport that is surprisingly team oriented,” Gaylord said. “I'm a social athlete and I found the same support in the cycling community I experienced on the soccer field.” </p><p>A year later, he showed such promise and commitment that the employees and team riders at Sycamore Cycles in Hendersonville chipped in to buy him a high-end performance bike to replace his Craigslist clunker.</p><p>“I've been told I'm a natural cyclist,” Gaylord said. “But I'm not an aquatic mammal at all, so I'm glad I could team up with Reid for the race.”</p><p>Motter said he began kayaking at Christ School in Arden at age 14 and quickly progressed. </p><p>“I have always loved outdoor activities, but kayaking just fit me perfectly,” he said. “I never dreamed I would be be good enough to do something like paddle the Green Narrows, let alone race this Saturday.”</p><p>Motter and Gaylord said they are cognizant of the risks involved in each sport and strive to push their limits without exceeding them. </p><p>“If you aren't prepared or ready for a hard rapid, things quickly spiral out of control,” Motter said. “When I drop into a raging rapid, I'm so focused that I feel each stroke and movement vividly as if it was happening in slow motion.”</p><p>Gaylord said he recently experienced a crash that took most of the skin off his arm, cracked his helmet and worst of all, scratched his new bike. </p><p>“It's disconcerting the only thing between me and the road is those little skinny road bike tires when I'm descending at 55 miles an hour,” Gaylord said. “It's exhilarating and sketchy.” </p><p>Motter said they aim to complete the race in just under two hours, a lofty goal given the winning time in 2012 was 2:01:36. </p><p>In addition to competing, the two raised $250 in sponsorships to donate to ALS research.</p><p>Both teens said their parents have worked hard to support them in their extreme hobbies.</p><p>“I mean, Mom isn't exactly happy about it,” Gaylord said. “It's clear they would rather I had chosen something like golf, but they are very supportive.”</p><p>Motter's dad, Rich, said he credits kayaking as a positive force that has fostered his son's maturity, decision-making skills and risk assessment.</p><p>“Every time they go on a more serious run such as the Narrows where there has been fatalities and other serious accidents, we are obviously nervous until we get the phone call they are off the river,” Rich Motter said. “They are very aware of how to react in a crisis situation and understand the responsibility of being each others lifeline.”</p>